Carbon monoxide woes shut down Munson Center

By Steve Ramirez / sramirez@lcsun-news.com

Posted:
01/09/2013 12:06:42 PM MST

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The Robert B. Munson Center is closed permanently by the fire marshal until the buildings's reoccurring HVAC problems are fully resolved, officials announced Wednesday. Caution tape with a hand-written, "Do Not Enter" sign is hung at the entrance of the building.

LAS CRUCES — Amid concerns that carbon monoxide levels are still too high inside Munson Senior Center, 975 Mesquite St., Fire Marshal Ted Sweetser ordered the building closed Wednesday until the source is found and corrected.

"We felt in the best interest of the public and those who go in and out of there that we needed to close it down until we find the source and shut it down," Sweetser said. " This is something we take very seriously. We want to resolve this issue and felt absolutely that this was the right course of action to take."

Munson Center will be closed indefinitely.

"We thought we had it taken care of," said Lori Grumet, city senior programs administrator. "We were all set to open (Wednesday) morning. The fire marshal came in, took some additional readings and the alarms went off again. The city has called in a professional technician to assess the situation, and a meeting is scheduled (today) to begin that process. It will take as long as it takes to ensure the building is completely safe for everyone to use."

Yellow caution tape was placed across the main entrance to the center to keep people from getting too close to the building. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, and at-risk groups include the elderly, people with chronic heart disease and respiratory problems, and infants.

Munson has been closed since Monday, when sensors and a gas meter inside the building detected unacceptable levels of carbon monoxide.

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This is the third time in the past year the city's main senior center has had to be closed because of carbon monoxide levels.

"Unfortunately, it looks like Munson Center will be closed longer than originally anticipated," said city Councilor Greg Smith, in an email to constituents. "I am sorry that there are those having to miss things that are important parts of their routines, but I know we all want the facility to be safe."

As many as 200 people use the senior center every week days. People who participate in the city's nutritional program have been redirected to Henry Benavidez Senior Center, 1045 McClure Road, or the Eastside Senior Center, 310 N. Tornillo St., to eat lunch. Dial-a-Ride patrons who eat at Munson Center will continue to be transported to the Eastside Center.

Enhance Fitness and Tai Chi classes at Munson Center will be moved to Eastside Center. All other activities such as Mah Jongg, card playing, billiards, quilting and art classes will be suspended unless arrangements are made with senior programs staff members.

For more information, call the city's Senior Programs, (575) 541-3000.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at 575-541-5452. Follow him on Twitter @SteveRamirez6

Closed indefinitely

— Munson Senior Center, 975 S. Mesquite St., will remain closed indefinitely until the source of high levels of carbon monoxide inside the building can be found and fixed.

— The senior center has been closed three times in the past year — and twice in the past two months — because of carbon monoxide.

LAS CRUCES — Amid concerns that carbon monoxide levels are still too high inside Munson Senior Center, 975 Mesquite St., city Fire Marshal Ted Sweetser has ordered the building closed until the source of the gas is found and corrected.

City officials announced this morning that Munson Center will be closed indefinitely. That is a reversal of an announcement made by the city late Tuesday when they said the building appeared to be safe and would open today.

Yellow caution tape was placed across the main entrance to the center in apparent attempts to keep people from getting too close to the building. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, and at-risk groups include the elderly, people with chronic heart disease and infants.

Munson has been closed since Monday, when sensors and a gas meter inside the building detected unacceptable levels of carbon monoxide. This is the third time in the past year the city's main senior center has had to be closed because of carbon monoxide levels.

As many as 200 people use the senior center every week days. People who participate in the city's nutritional program have been redirected to Henry Benavidez Senior Center, 1045 McClure Road, or the Eastside Senior Center to eat lunch. Dial-a-Ride patrons who eat at Munson Center will continue to be transported to the Eastside Center, 310 N. Tornillo St.

Enhance Fitness and Tai Chi classes at Munson Center will instead be conducted at Eastside Center. All other activities such as Mah Jongg, card playing, pool playing, quilting and art classes will be suspended unless arrangements are made with senior programs staff.